Method of and means for producing tire carcass material



*July 21 f1925.- 115546372;

E. K. BAKER" METHOD`0F AND MEANS FOR PRODUGING-T1RE cARcAss `MATERLAL 1www@ JulyzlV 1925. A

` "E. K. BAKER METHOD OF ND MEANS FOR PRQDUCING TIRE CARCSS `MATERJA.;

Filed Nov. 5gv 41919 @www Eri@ E EQ/er.'

- July Z 1925.

E. K. BAKER METHOD oF AND MEANS EOE PEODUCING TIRE AEcAss MATERIAL FiledNov. 5, 1919 3 Sh'eets-She'et 5 Patented .l'uly 21, 1925. ,e

ERLE K. BAKER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHODOF AND MEANS FORPRODUGING' TIRE CARGA-SS MATERIAL.

Application filed November 5, 1919. Serial No. 335,832.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that 1,' ERLE K. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Methods of and Means for Producing TireCarcass Material, of which the following is a specification.

There are two general types of tires with respect to the carcassmaterial which they employ, to-wit; the fabric type and the cord type.In the manufacture of the fabric tire it is customary to cut strips ofthe woven fabric into bias strips by clipping the corners fromvrectangular sheets and then to ap-ply these bias strips to the tiremould. Because of the bias formation of the strips, it is necessary, infabric tires, to use several lengths or p-ieces of fabric to completeone annulus, and this is done by making a lap joint 'which lisobjectionable, among other reasons, in that it produces a doublethickness of fabric at that point.

The cord type of tire is considered far superior to the fabric type oftire both in durability andresiliency, but involves certain productiondisadvantages which have heretofore made this type quite expensive. Thetypical cord tire is produced by laying the cord directly upon the tiremould in superposedlayers of diagonally disposed cords. This method ofproduction is slow, laborious, and expensive, andin practice is limitedto the use of relatively coarse cords which have proven to be lesseflicient than smaller cords.y

The superiority of the cord type of tire over the fabric type, and thedifficulties of production and defects just noted, have led to thepractice of making so called cord tire which are, in reality, a fabrictire of a spe'- cial kind. rIphe fabric, in this instance, instead ofbeing composed of interwoven warp and woof threads of the same size, iscomposed of warpthreads of a size considerably larger than the woofthreadspthe woof threads serving in this instance merely to hold lthematerial together as a fabric to permit of its being clipped at thecorners to provide bias material and vto permit manipulationsubstantially with the same means and by the same methods employed inbuilding the fabric tire. These Woof, or

cross threads, however, are a positive detriment when embodied in thetire, inasmuch as they, in a measure, serve to cut the warp threads withwhich they intertwine. AThis type of tire, however, approaches morenearly the advantages of a typical cord tire than it does thedisadvantages of the fabric tire, and for this reason it is called atire of l the cord type.

It is an object of my invention to provide amethod of and means forproducing tire carcass material of the typical cord type, to-wit:crossed layers of -unwoven cords, and 'to provide a material that can beutilized in the building of a tire Vunder the general method employed inthe manufacture of the fabric tire. One of the advantages of suchvmaterial, over and above its inherent advantage as a typicalcord carcassmaterial, lies in the fact that the extensive andv often elaboratemachinery and equipment of the tire factories may be used with thismaterial. So, also, Workmen Who have become skilled in the manufactureof tires under former tire-making methods may ,cord carcass material canbe better enveloped in rubber and the whole consolidated into anadhesive mass which shall be am ly able to withstandall the pulling,stretching or other forces to which it is subjected both in the makingofthe tire and in use thereafter.

My invention consists generally in the steps, acts, and means wherebythe above named objects, together with other which will appearhereinafter, are attainable, and my invention will be more readilyunderstood by reference to. the accompanying drawings which illustratethat form of my invention which l consider the best at the present time.

ln said drawings:

Fig.v 1 is a general elevation of mechanism embodying my invention, andof a character? suitable for practicing my method for producing cordcarcass material.

Fig. 2 is a detail view, upon an enlarged scale, taken substantially onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the carcass severing mechanism shown inFig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a view substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, but on anenlarged scale.

Fig. 5, is a view substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 are sectional views taken respectively on thelines 6 6; 7 7; 8 8 9 9', 10 10; and 11 11 of Fig. 1, and. being upon anenlarged scale.

Referring to said drawings 1 represents an endless metallic band whichpasses over spaced pulleys 2, 3, 4, and 5. The character of this bandmay vary to some extent-but it is preferably a relatively thin band suchas will enable it to pass over the pulleys 2 to 5 without buckling. ltis also provided with' highly .polished surfacesV to facilitate theremoval of, the tire carcass material therefrom.

The band 1, in this instance, is of such size, i. e. width, that whenthe carcass material is formed thereon it may be severed along the edgesof the band thereby forming-two strips, each strip beino of a width suchas will extend, when place upon a tire mold, from one base to the other.Obviously by making the band wider a larger number of strips of desiredsize may be formed thereon.

The metal band 1 is caused to move at a predetermined speed, by means ofmechanism` to be described hereafter, in the direction of the arrows.Let us assume that the pulley 2, is the starting point or thecommencement of one cycle of operation. Y From that point the bandpasses downwardly between two sets of mechanisms 6 and 7, respectively,which mechanisms operate to apply to the band 1 an enveloping coat ofrubber 8 (see Fig. 7 As shown, in the present instance, the rubber inliquid form is oontained in the receptacles 9 and 10 respectively, fromwhich it is elevated by means of groups of ro-lls 11 and 12,respectively,l

two of which contact with and hence apply rubber to the band 1. Thethickness of the layer of rubber applied tothe band may be varied tosuit the particular requirements and as a matter of fact the rubber,instead of being applied in a liquid or semi-liquid condition may beapplied as a thin layer as in the frictioning of tire materials. Afterleaving the rubber applying mechanisms 6` and 7, the band passesdownwardly through the floor 13 of the buildin# and thence through aheating device 14 wahich serves to semi-cure the rubber on the band 1and to condition it better to receive the' cords or strands which areapplied to the band by the' cord winding mechanism 15.

The cord winding mechanism in this instance, is designed to lay on orapply simultaneously two hundred cords, but this it should be understoodmay be more or less, depending upon the size of the cord and the size ofthe carcass material being formed. rl`he cord is carried upon a floatingtable 16, by means of a plurality of spindles 17 which are arranged, inthe present instance, in two concentric rings adjacent the Outer portionof the table. The cords from the various spools extend inwardly, eachcord passing through one of the holes 18 in the central ring 19. Thereis a considerable amount of space between the spools and the ring 18which space may accommodate any other mechanism desirable such forexample, as mechanism for placing the respective co'rds underpredetermined tension. 1n any event the respectfve cords are taut sothat they may be conveniently handled and accurately placed. The cordwinding mechanism 15 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, bymechanism to be described shortly. Thus as the band 1 passes downwardly,and as the cord winding mechanism rotates to the right, the cords arelaid angularly across both faces of the band 1 in intimate side by siderelation. cord assumes on the face of the band 1 is dctermined by therelative speed of the cord winding mechanism and that of the band,"

but the angle is preferably a45 degree angle since this, in practice,appears to give the best results. The various cords 20 are preferably'primed with rubber before being wound upon the spool and when thustreated they more eagerly unite with and adhere to the band 1 and therubber 8 thereon. ,The

rubber 8,-'by the time it reaches the point for the application of thecord, is also in a very receptive condition. For some purposes, however,it may not be necessary or desirable to prime the cords beforeapplication tothe band 1 and I, therefore, do not wish to be understoodas limiting the invention to this particular type of cord.

Depending from ,the table is an annular wall 16 which. terminates in anoutwardly.

Obviously the angle that thev essentially one of high speed operation sothat the attendant, by riding on the flange 16 can replenish the spoolswithout stopping the operation of the machine.

The table is'driven by means of a pinion 21 carried upon a line shaft 22which inion engages the annular gear rack 23 fixe -up-on the underfaceof the flange 16". The table, in this instance, is held and guidedfor proper rotation |by means of a plurality of rollers 24 whichstraddle the gear rack 23 and the flanges 25 of which engage the underface 16 of the flange 16, The line shaft 22 isdriven from the motor 26through the medium of suitable gea-ring 27.

Thus as the 'band 1 leaves the cord winding mechanism 15, it lays thecords thereon in intimate side by side relation and agularly disposedonthe face of the band as shown in Figures 5 and 8.

`The band 1, as here shown, no-W passes through another heating ortempering-device 28 which conditions the cord carcass material on theband 1 better to receive an adhering layer of rubber. The adhering layerof rubber 29, (see Fig. 9) is applied by means of frictioning mechanism30 (see Fig. l). This-frictioning mechanism may be of usual constructionand therefore, no detail description thereof need be given.l Generally,however, it may be stated that it comprises two rolls 31 and 32 arrangedabove the band 1, which rolls are rotated by suitable means and therebytake the rubber from the shelf 33 and form it in a layer around the roll32. The peripheral speed of the roll 32 is slightly greater than thespeed of travel of the band 1 so that a layer of rubber 29 is spreadupon the cord carcass material 'previously placed upon the band by thewinding mechanism 15. The rolls 31 and 32 are kept at proper temperatureby means of the steam pipe 34 and the rubber that is applied to theshelf 33 is previously properly conditioned in well known manner.A On,the under side of the band will be found similar rubber applying rollsto spread'rubber on the other side of the band, but since theirconstruction and op-- eration has already-...been described, no furthermention Will be made thereof.

Asthe. band 1 leaves the rubber applying or frictioning mechanism 30 itwill be found to contain the cords and enveloping-layers of rubber butit is quite desirable that these materials shall be compacted into amutually adhering tenacious mass. It is also essential that the rubbershall be forced into place so'as to rubber insulate the respective cordsone from the other. As a matter of fact the proper application of rubberto the cord carcass material and the consolidation thereof with thecords has been one of the most baffling problems met With in theproduction of cord tires and is a potent factor in the present excessivecost of cord tires. Heretofore it has been attempted to apply thefrictioning or insulating rubber to a. sheet of the cord material butsince such cord material, as heretofore explained, is held together onlyby relatively few and extremely small and delicate cross threads, thisoperation has been and is one difficult ofaccomplishment. In mymethod,however, the cords are very tightly wrapped around the thin band ofmetall Which forms an ideal element for passage not only through thefrictioning rolls, but also through therolls which I pro-vide forsubjecting the material to pressure and heat such .as'will consolidatethe component parts into the mutually adhering tenacious, yet resilientmaterial desired. The consolidating mechanism is shown at 35 and asshown is composed of a plurality of lower drums 36C and a plurality ofupper drums 37, which are spaced apart a distance such as will permitthe band 1 and the cord material carried thereon to pass between therolls 36 and 37 being, however, subjected to any desired predeterminedpressure, depending upon the spaced relation of the drums 36 and 37. Thedrums 36 and 37 are maintained` at desired temperature by steam suppliedthrough a steam pipe 38. The drums 36 and 37 are utilized foi` anadditional purpose and that is to impart the desired movement to theband 1. This is an ideal drive for slippage is impossible because of thecharacter of the material on the band 1 and. the pressure rolling of thedrums 36 and 37 thereon. It becomes pos sible by this method to subjectthe cord matcrial and enveloping layers of rubber. to any desiredpractical pressure and to thereby consolidate the cords and rubber intoa homogeneous mutually adhering tenacious, yet resilient, mass.

Motion is imparted to the drums 36 and 37 through the medium of the lineshaft 39, gearing 40 'and 41. The shaft 39 is driven from the motor 26by means of the y shaft 42.

After leaving the mechanism 35 the band passes over* the pulley 4through the heat tempering device 43 on to the cord winding mechanism44. The construction and operation of the cord winding mechanism 44 issimilar to that of the cord winding mechanism 15 and no furtherdescription thereof will be given. The driving mechanism is such as torotate the table in the direction of the arrow thereon but since theband 1 passes upwardly throughthe cord winding mechanism 44 instead ofdownwardly therethrough, as in the cord Winding mechanism 15, the cordsWill vbe laid cross Wise with respect to those already on the band. Thisis indicated by means of the dotted line 45 in Fig. 5. The cordssupplied by the mechanism'44 are also given the number 45 in Fig. 10.The band l with the two layers ofy cord material thereon now passesupwardly through the heat tempering device 55 thence over the pulley 5and on to the rubber applying or frictioning device 56. The mechanism 56is or may be similar to the mechanism ,30 heretofore described and nofurther descriptio-n thereof will be given. It serves to apply a layerof rubber 57Il to the second layer of cords (see Fig. ll) and thereafterthe band with its layers of rubber and cords passes on to the mechanism57 which mechanism is like Vunto the mechanism 35 and serves to pressureroll, heat and consolidate the rubber and cords. The mechanism 58likewise is a driving mechanism the shaft 57 transmitting powertherethrough through suitable gearing. Thereafter the band passes onwardly to the severing mechanism 59 which, in the present instance, iscomposedof two knives 60- and 6l,

respectively, `(best shown in Figs. 2 and 3,) /which sever`th`e'.cordcarcass material along the opposite edges of the band 1 and thus form itinto Ytwo strips 62 and 63, respectively which strips are wound upon thespindles 64 and 65 respectively.

Inasmuoh as the strip material is in semicured or sticky conditioncanvas strips 66 and 67 are Wound simultaneously onto the spindles 64and 65 with the strips 62 and 63 thus preventing adhesion of theadjacent convolutions of cord carcass material.

The mechanisms 56, 57 and 59 are all mounted in the present instanceupona platform 68 which may be conveniently reached by means of steps '69. i

As the band 1 leaves the mechanism 59 it is again in the form shown inFig. 6, i. e. a band of metal having highly polished surfaces, for thecord carcass material because of its semicured condition leaves the bandfree and clean. It will be seen therefore that the operation is or maybe a continuous one and that strips of cord carcass material of anydesired length may be provided.. These strips of cord carcass materialmay be manipulated in the manner heretofore customary in themanipulation of fabric material or materia-l of the so-called cord type,except that it is notnecessary to cut away the corners of the materialto form bias strips because the cord is laid on the bias n when appliedto the band 1.

I have described the operation as comprising and including two layersvofcross unproven-cords, but I wish it to be understood that this is by Wayof illustration and not by way of limitation for the number'of layersmay be more or less. For example, the cord carcass material may besevered or removed from the band l after it leaves the mechanism 35 atwhich time it contains thereon only one layer of cord carcass mate-'rial (see Fig. 9), but as already explained the operations are suchthat the rubber and cord are consolidated into a mutually adheringmassand the strip is in effect a rubber band which can be freely pulled andshaped, as may be necessary in the operations in forming the material toand shaping it upon the tire mold, all Without danger of separating thecords. Of course, if only one layer of cords is to be formed the secondwinding and other mechanism will be eliminated.

I have described the various parts as occupying certain positionsrelative to the vertical and horizontal planes, but this I wish to beconsidered as b way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Forexample, the mechanismv86 is shown as being in a horizontal plane aslikewise is the frictioning mechanism 35. These, obviously, may beplaced to operate upon the band While the same is movingthrou-gh-a--vertical or other plane. Y I

The great simplicity and obvious-advantages of the method and mechanismherein -disclosed will be apparent to those skilled in this art withoutfurther -comment.

l. The method of making cord carcass material which consists inenveloping a fiat band with ya plurality of cords, consilidating thecords into an adhering mass while on lthe band, and in removing theconsolidated material from the band by slitting it at the edges of saidband to provide a plurality of atcarcass strips.

2. The method of making cord carcess material which consists inenveloping a fiat, polished, metallic band With a plurality of cords,consolidating the cords into an adhering mass while on the band and inremoving the colsolidated material from the band by slitting it at theedges of said band to provide a plurality of f'lat carcass strips.

3. The methodv of'making cord carcass material which consists in windinga plurality of cords upon and thereby enveloping a flat moving band,consolidating the cords into an adhering mass While on the band, and inremoving the consolidated material from the band by slitting it at theedges of said band to provide a plurality of flat carcass strips.

4. The method of making cord carcass material of strip form, whichconsists in enveloping a fiat band with a plurality of cords,consolidating the cords into an adhering mass while on the adheringmass,

and in longitudinally severing the consolidated material at the edges ofthe band to convert it into duplex flat strip form.

6. The method of making cord carcass material which consists in applyingrubber to a flat band, enveloping the rubberized band with a pluralityof cords, consolidating the cords and rubber into anadhering mass,

and in removing the consolidated material i to a flat band, inenveloping the band With a plurality of cords, applying rubber to thecord material, consolidating the cords and rubber into an adhering massWhile on the band, and in removing the consolida/ted material from theband. A

9. The method of making cord carcass material Which ,onsists inenvelopin a fiat band With a plurality of cords so disposed thereon/asto 'extend diagonally across the face ofthe band, consolidating thecords into an adhering mass While onthe band, and in removingtheconsolidated material from the band by slitting it at the edges of theband to provide a plurality of flat carcass strips.

titi

material which consists in enveloping a ilat band` with a plurality oicords, consolidating the same into an adhering mass by passing the band,With its envelope of cord material, through pressure rolls, and in removing the consolidated material from the band by slitting it at theedges of the band to provide a plurality of flat carcass strips.

11. The method ot' making cord carcass material which consists inenveloping a flat band with a plurality of cords, in enveloping thecords carried by the band With other cords, inconsolidating 'all of thecords into an adhering mass While on the band, and in removing theconsolidated material from the band by slitting it at the edges of theband to provide a plurality of flat carcass strips.

12. The method of making cord carcass' material Which consists inapplying rubber -to a flat band. in enveloping the rubberized band witha plurality of cords, in applying rubber to the cords placed upon theband, in enveloping the rubberized cord with a plurality of cords,consolidating all of the cords and rubber into an adhering mass while onthe band, and in removing the consolidated material from the band.

13. The method of making cord carcass material Which consists inapplying rubber to a flat band,enveloping the rubberized band with aplurality of cords, consolidating the cords and rubber into an adheringmass, in semicuring the material While on the band, and in removingconsolidated material from the band.

14. The method of making cord carcass material Which consists inenveloping a flat band With a plurality of cords, applying rubber to thecord material, consolidating the cords and rubber into an adhering massAwhile on the band, semi-curing the material while lon the band, and inremovingthe consolidated semicured material from the band.

15. The method -of making cord carcass material Which consists inapplying rubber to a Hat band, enveloping the band Withka plurality ofcords, ap lying rubber to the cord material, consoli ating the cordsand" rubber into an adhering mass While on the band, in semi curing thematerial While on the band, and in removing the consolidated semi-cured,material from the band.

16. The method of making cord carcass material which consistsinapplying" rubberA Ito a flat band, enveloping the rubberized band with aplurality of cords, consolidating the cords into an adhering mass Whileon the band, in lsemi-curingv the material while n on the band, and inremoving the consoli dated semi-cured material from the band.

.17. The method of making cord carcass material Which consists inapplying rubber to a flat band, in enveloping the rubberized v i ,Yband'yvith a plurality of cords, in applying 10. The method of makingcord carcass rubber to the cords placed upon the band,

rality of cords,- consolidating the cords and rubber into an adheringmass While on the band, in rsemi-curing the material While on the band,and ,in removing the consolidated `semi-cured material from the band.

18. A continuous cord carcass mill, comprising a flat bandVIneans forJforwardingv said band, means for Winding a plurality of cords about theband to form an envelope in 'which thel cords extend diagonally of theface of the band, means for consolidating the cords into an adheringmass, and means for severingthe material longitudinally at the'edges ofthe band to convert it to duplex strip form. I

19.' A continuous cord carcass mill, comprising a at band, means'forapplying rubber to said band, means for forwarding said band, means forWinding a plurality of cords about the band vto form an envelope inwhich the cords extend diagonally of the face of the band, means forconsolidating the cords into an adhering mass, and means for severingthe' material longitudinally to convert it to strip form.

20. A continuous cord carcass mill, compri'sing a fiat band, means forapplying rubber to the band means for forwarding said band, means forWinding a plurality of cords about the band to form an envelope in whichthe cords extend diagonally of the face of thevband, means forconsolidating the cords into an adhering mass, and means for semi-curingthe material.

material longitudinally to convert it to strip 10 form.

21. A continuous cord carcass mill, comln testimony whereof, I havehereunto set 20 my hand, this 22nd da'y of October, 1919.

` yERLE K. BAKERL

